Fashion
20 Times Taylor Swift Looked Nothing Like Herself
The world has grown accustomed to Taylor Swift’s pop reinvention look—crop tops, “lob" haircut, and all. Even still, it seems like just yesterday that she was donning Rapunzel curls and Quinceñera gowns to the CMT awards. Combing the archival photos of Taylor Swift, you'll find that her style is virtually unrecognizable from just a short time ago. Her metamorphosis from country crooner to Top-40 supernova has been fast, efficient, and necessitated many pairs of high-waisted shorts.
But unlike the normals of the world, Swift can only bury the evidence of those early style phases so far. The interweb has laid out plenty of these deliciously dated relics for us to devour like a smorgasboard of questionable taste: the photos of her with post-Bahamian vacation cornrows at eleven; the ads of her clad in Abercrombie low-rise jeans with studded belts; the blown-out glamour shots of Swiftie with mid-aughts gold hoops. Even if she’s grown into a lady with a penchant for classic American styles and the Polaroid patina, we know exactly where she came from: cowboy boots, mini dresses, and glitter encrusted guitars.
Frankly though, I don’t want to live in a world that has forgotten 2009-era fairy tale Swift, all updo, crinoline, and blind optimism. So cue the sentimental montage and turn on "100 Years to Live” by Five For Fighting. Here are 20 throwback moments of Taylor Swift where she looks totally unrecognizable.
Beaded-braid Swift
Behold! The fruits of her family's cruise to Turks & Caicos, or something.
2003 Abercrombie & Fitch Ad Swift
Somehow, this didn't become the single photo for "Teardrops on my Guitar."
Taylor Swift in this glamour shot
Please tell me this was taken in a mall and that car is just part of a pull-down backdrop.
When she was on Once Upon a Prom
Look at her being all normal and stuff...
In 2006, when she was just a girl with her guitar
Check out this fresh face...
At The 2006 CMT Awards
Signature red lip? Nowhere to be found.
EHRMAGHERD... Elbow-length gloves!! Who is this impostor?!
The 2007 CMT Awards
YM Prom incarnate.
All the dresses with cowboy boots
Remember bandana dresses, guys?!
Ladies and gentlemen, you're looking upon the personalized cowboy boots of Taylor Swift.
That chick rockin' kicks has seriously gotta be from outta town.
Does she have a library of boots that just sit in storage collecting dust, or what?
Keepin' it country: 101.
Have you forgotten who you are, Taylor?!
Kellie Pickler really misses you.
That one time she wore a coat
GASP! As a side note, HOLY sparkly instrument.
What is it about Taylor Swift in outerwear that just looks so foreign?
Another time, at the CMT Awards
LeAnn Rimes? Is that you?!
Her Earth mother phase
When bad hippie headbands happen to good people.
Her Renfaire Phase
DUDE! I just can't process the fact that this...
became this.
Never forget.
Image: Abercrombie & Fitch; Getty Images (17)
